The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time turns 19 today

This article is over 7 years old and may contain outdated information

It re-invented the Zelda series and 3D adventure games

Recommended Videos

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time had a major impact on a lot of formative gaming careers. Not only was it one of the most famous “it’s done when it’s done” examples when it comes to Nintendo’s willingness to delay big projects, but it’s also one of the highest reviewed games of all time.

Whether or not you felt like the move from 2D to 3D was an upgrade or not, it sent ripples throughout the industry. That was 19 years ago on November 21, 1998 on the Nintendo 64. Since then, you could pick it up by way of a GameCube special edition release, the Wii/Wii U Virtual Console, and the 3DS.

Notice how I called it a “3D adventure” above in the tagline? I tried to stay out of the whole genre conversation but what the hell, I’ll dive right in. I’ve always classified Zelda games as “action-adventure with RPG elements.” I mean, just because there isn’t an “experience bar” it doesn’t mean you’re not upgrading (hearts, items).


Destructoid is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Chris Carter
Chris Carter
Managing Editor - Chris has been enjoying Destructoid avidly since 2008. He finally decided to take the next step in January of 2009 blogging on the site. Now, he's staff!